Paramo contract gets board approval

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Board of Education unanimously approved Monday a two-year contract that includes an annual salary of $150,000 for the district’s new superintendent of schools, Deena Paramo.

Paramo, who’d been serving as acting superintendent since the sudden death of Superintendent Ken Burnley July 2, comes with 15 years of classroom and administrative experience in Mat-Su Borough School District. Before that she taught in the Cooper River School District in Glennallen.

For the past four years, she was the school district’s assistant superintendent of instruction, working directly under Burnley since his hiring in July 2010.

She earned a bilingual education degree from the University of Texas, a master’s degree of administration from the University of Alaska and a doctorate in learning assessment and systems performance from the University of Oregon, according to her resumé.

Thursday after the school board unanimously voted to name her the new superintendent, Pramo said she was looking forward to helping make the transition into the new school year as smooth as possible.

“Prior to Dr. Burnley’s passing, the board had set goals and objectives for this next year and I’m gong to work to stay focused on those objectives,” she said. “I’m ready for the challenge.”

Her contract includes term life insurance of $500,000 and a daily pay rate of $576.92 for 260 workdays each year.

The contract also stipulates that the board may determine she’s eligible for incentive pay of no more than $50,000 in any one year through its evaluation process.

And she will receive a taxable transportation stipend of $450 per month.

Paramo was among five finalists for superintendent last year when the board hired Burnley instead.

The Mat-Su Borough Board of Education will have its next regular meeting at 6 p.m., Aug. 3, in the upper library at Palmer High School.

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.